Our DEE
Ambassadors
Chantal Chelin
Chantal Chelin embodies the essence of equestrian dedication and passion. Introduced to horses at age 9 by her grandfather, Mr. Reginald Knight, a respected figure in Cape Town's racing scene, Chantal's love for these majestic creatures blossomed. Now based in Johannesburg South, she aspires to make it into the Open classes with her new horse, Rosefield Verso Larghretto. In addition to her competitive ambitions, she produces young horses and owns Rosefield Horse Sales. Her ultimate goal is to excel as a competitive 1m50 rider.
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Chantal's journey is marked by notable achievements, including representing the KZN Junior Show Jumping and Showing team in 2004 and winning the Junior Victor Ludorum at Pietermaritzburg's Royal Show Grounds in 2005. Her dedication to improvement took her to Ireland, where she trained with Richard and Andrew Bourns of Bourns Sport Horses.
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Among her promising proteges are the up-and-coming youngsters Rosefield Cornata PDL, Rosefield Atlantica, and Rosefield Concord. At the core of Chantal's ethos is a belief in the transformative power of hard work and dedication, best encapsulated by her favourite quote: "You can have all the talent in the world, but hard work and dedication are unbeatable."
With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Chantal Chelin continues to inspire as she nurtures young talent and pursues her passion for show jumping.
Shannay Marais
Shannay is a 19-year-old competitive open showjumper from South Africa. She has been riding since the early age of 6. She currently competes at the 1m35/1m40 graded level with her Warmblood mare, Assegai Quickstep (Quicks), and with Walker Bay, her very promising OTTB, in the 1m10 classes. Recently Shannay has also bought a mare, Capital Cinnabon (Bonny) by Colnardo, who she is hoping to produce to Open level for herself in the near future. Having just finished Matric, Shannay is also doing a lot of work riding and schooling/producing young horses, which is her passion.
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One of the highlights of her young horse production is her own horse Walker Bay (now 6 years old). She bought him off the track at age 4 and has produced him to the 1m10 level. Her goal is to reach the Open level, with guidance from her coach, Chad Cunningham.
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Shannay’s biggest achievement at the professional level was winning the Junior 1m35 SA Derby title with Quicks in 2023 at KEP in the Bob Charter (her favorite surface and arena). The year before, in 2022, she won the Junior 130 Youth Series Grand Prix with Quicks, an event held across multiple venues, tracks, and courses.
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During her junior and pony rider career, Shannay was selected to represent Gauteng in Provincial and National team events across multiple showjumping levels, from 90cm to 1m20.
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Shannay’s passion and love for her own horses—and all horses—are beautiful to witness. She is kind, understanding, and genuinely embraces the idea of “putting the horse first and the sport second.” She believes that each horse has something unique to give, with the potential to achieve great things given time, patience, and care.
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Her aspirations as a rider are to compete locally at the 1m50 level and to eventually venture to Europe to compete in the Longines events, alongside the riders she aspires to be.
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Shannay acknowledges that her journey in the sport would not have been possible without the support of her horses, their willingness to be her partners both in and outside the ring, as well as her parents, coaches, grooms, farriers, sponsors, and many others.
Hanno Niemand
At just 16 years old, Hanno Niemand is making his mark in the equestrian world. Introduced to horses at a young age through his grandfather, Arno van der Merwe—who bred Arabians and Friesians—Hanno’s true riding journey began in 2021 after his grandfather’s passing.
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Starting in Rustenburg, NW, competing in SANESA, he quickly progressed to graded shows under the guidance of Oscar Ncube. Now, as a dedicated rider and young horse producer, Hanno is focused on developing his strong string of two talented horses, Capital Hayward and Callaho Lissandro, while working towards competing at higher levels in 2025. His long-term ambition is to ride professionally in Europe.
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Beyond competition, Hanno is passionate about shaping the equestrian industry and raising awareness about the deep history and significance of horses. He believes in fostering greater respect for these incredible animals and is determined to make a difference—both in and out of the arena.
Erin Furman
Erin (Erela) Furman, 18, competitive show jumper from Johannesburg, began riding at age 6. She competes proudly with her 10-year-old Boerperd, Chaje Fletcher. The bond between horse, rider and coach has never been stronger.
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Originally Erela was leasing Fletcher and when his owners decided to sell him, Erela was devastated to possibly lose her best friend. Not having come from a horse-riding background, and possibly having no idea what they were getting into, Erela’s parents ensured this beautiful partnership would not be broken and Chaje Fletcher joined the family of humans, dogs, cockatiel and now horse(s).
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From earlier estimates of Fletcher not being a “true” competitive horse, a combination of hard work, love and lots of fun, the dynamic duo went on to several notable achievementsincluding winning the Hollard Pre-Easter 90cm class in 2024. Now comfortable at 1m10 and sometimes 1m20 at the yard, Erela and Fletcher are moving up to the 1m graded class in competitions.
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Currently studying Horsemanship at Beaulieu Equestrian Academy, Erela aspires to make the equestrian world her home. Passionate about all animals and passionate and competitive with horses, Erela is living her dream. As a brand ambassador for Dani Equestrian Essentials, Erin is sitting pretty in this new role.
Tabi Cruickshank
Tabi Cruickshank's passion for horses began at the age of five and has remained a defining part of her life ever since. Having grown up riding in Noordhoek, Cape Town, she has spent her entire equestrian journey immersed in the sport, developing a deep appreciation for horsemanship, dedication, and the unique partnership between horse and rider.
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A competitive show jumper at heart, Tabi successfully competed through the Pony Rider and Junior ranks, creating lasting memories along the way, including the honour of representing the Western Cape at the South African Youth Championships. While her focus remains on show jumping, she is equally passionate about correct flatwork and believes that strong foundations on the flat are essential to developing successful and confident jumping horses.
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Today, Tabi balances her studies with riding professionally for multiple clients throughout Cape Town. She takes great pride in helping to produce and develop a variety of horses, valuing the trust owners place in her to ride and care for their equine partners. For Tabi, work riding is not only a privilege but also an invaluable opportunity to continually improve her own skills and understanding as a horsewoman.
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Looking ahead, she is excited about the future with her young horse, Conti Con Nocturne C, who has recently turned five. Together, they are building a partnership with the goal of returning to the competitive arena and progressing through the ranks in the years to come.
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At the heart of Tabi's approach to riding is a genuine love for horses and an appreciation for every moment spent in the saddle. Her favourite reminder reflects this philosophy perfectly: "If you entered the arena on a horse you love, you have already won."
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With unwavering dedication to her horses, her clients, and her own development as a rider, Tabi continues to embrace every opportunity to learn, grow, and pursue excellence within the sport she loves.
Megan De Lange
Megan De Lange's equestrian journey began at the age of 9, and from the very first ride, she was hooked. Like many young riders, she started by leasing school ponies before fulfilling every little girl’s dream—getting her first horse straight off the track. That horse marked the beginning of a challenging yet rewarding path, shaping Megan into the determined and skilled rider she is today.
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Her dedication and hard work have been the backbone of her success, as she’s always taken on the responsibility of producing her horses from the ground up. This hands-on approach has not only honed her abilities but has also deepened her connection to each horse, making every achievement even more meaningful.
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Currently, Megan competes with her Thoroughbred, Billkool, who she has developed to the 1.30m level and is soon ready to go even higher in the new year. Together, they’ve faced their share of challenges, but Megan’s perseverance and problem-solving have always carried them through, proving that the journey is as important as the results.
Megan’s accolades speak to her talent and passion. She is the proud 2024 Open Equitation Champion and claimed second overall in the Thoroughbred Series—an incredible testament to her dedication and skill.
We are thrilled to have Megan representing our brand for the 2025 show season and can’t wait to see what she and Billkool achieve next!
Erin-Rae Ratcliffe
Meet Erin-Rae Ratcliffe – DEE Junior Ambassador
At just 13 years old, Erin-Rae Ratcliffe brings incredible passion, dedication, and talent to the DEE Team as our newest Junior Ambassador. A multi-disciplined rider with a special love for show jumping, Erin-Rae has already made her mark on the South African equestrian scene. She currently is in the top 4 rankings for the 1m10 and 1m20 divisions on her horses Africa’s Gold and the 1.00m on Duchess of Africa – two horses she has proudly produced herself.
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Erin-Rae’s riding journey began before she could even walk, and her commitment shines through in every aspect of her equestrian life. Under the guidance of her coaches, Maree Lamont and Nicky Wolmarans, she trains and competes daily, sharing her journey with an engaged and growing audience on social media. Whether she’s retraining off-the-track Thoroughbreds or stepping into the ring, Erin-Rae is passionate about the future of the sport—and equally excited to represent a brand like DEE that aligns with her goals and values.